With the last of the canal locks of the summer behind us, it’s time to start enjoying the islands and sounds of Scotland’s scenic west coast. First stop is Port Ramsay, just 20nm or so south of the exit of the Caledonian Canal.

Corran Point Lighthouse on the bank of Loch Linnhe at the Corran Narrows

Port Ramsay turns out to be a great anchorage – good shelter provided by a scattering of glacier-carved islands, reasonable depths with a good mud bottom for good holding, and a beautiful view across the expanse of Loch Linnhe to the south shore of the remote Morvern peninsula.

Looking up Loch Linnhe from Port Ramsay anchorage

But like always, while the beautiful scenery and picturesque anchorages are fantastic, the people we meet along the way are even better. Gordon has a small vacation cottage overlooking the anchorage, and he rowed out to welcome us to the anchorage.

Gordon’s holiday cottage with brown paint and white window trim overlooking the Port Ramsay anchorage
Dinghy parking on the shore below Gordon’s cottage. Oso waiting at anchor in the background

After chatting a bit, he invited us to join his wife Rhona and sister-in-law Sara for dinner that evening. We dinghied ashore to meet them, and had a wonderful evening only made better by the presence of their dog Struie.

Angie happily having some ‘dog-time’ with Struie
Mike, Rhona, Sara, Gordon and Angie enjoying an evening together

Places and evenings like this make us feel very fortunate to be traveling by sailboat.